A tale of two ad pages

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The words are spoken by Sydney Carton in the climactic scene of Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.”

This…is the tale of two ad pages—pages that have the same purpose but different approaches. And, I think, different results.

Both of these pages include several ads, all in color. Many of the ads on the page at left are overloaded with images and typography and the color is sometimes overdone.

But the real difference between the two pages is that the ads on the left page are cram-jammed together. In most cases, they’re almost touching, and where they’re not touching the spacing appears arbitrary and inconsistent.

As a result, the page is a design hodgepodge. It’s difficult for readers to tell one ad from the other. None of the ads is distinctive because they all bang into each other. For the advertiser, finding his ad is like playing “Where’s Waldo?” He has to search the page to find his ad, and he’s left to hope the reader will find it.

The page at right is a better investment for the advertiser. Yes, the ads are larger and they’ll cost him more…but they’re certainly better designed.

More important, though, is the generous space between each ad. The advertiser—and especially the reader—has no trouble seeing that his ad stands out from others around it.

The page has a clean, purposeful look about it. It appears planned—because it is planned.

I’m convinced that, given the choice, your advertiser would see buying an ad for the page on the left as an advertising cost—but an ad on the page on the right as an investment.

Cost…investment: Which do you think would be more appealing to your advertiser?

IF THIS COLUMN has been helpful, you may be interested in Ed’s books: Henninger on Design and 101 Henninger Helpful Hints. With the help of Ed’s books, you’ll immediately have a better idea how to design for your readers. Find out more about Henninger on Design and 101 Henninger Helpful Hints by visiting Ed’s web site: www.henningerconsulting.com